Recording device cage and method of use

ABSTRACT

The device is designed to secure any camera or video device to a fixed object and allow for tilt and angle adjustments. The cage is unique such that it will allow for any size device to be held securely while maintain the attributes for camera alignment, yet provide access to the operator to access the capabilities of the device and do so while keeping the device secure from theft.

This application claims priority under 35 USC 1.119(e) based onprovisional application No. 61/616,738 filed on Mar. 28, 2012

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a recording device cage and method ofuse, and more particularly to a cage that provides a secure environmentfor a camera or the like while at the same time allowing various sizeddevices to be used and the cage to be adjustably mounted for recordingdevice use.

BACKGROUND ART

Originally, devices such as game cameras have been used to monitor andtrack game movement in strategic areas for hunting, crop damage, andproperty damage. While these are usually placed in remote, unmonitoredarea's it has become difficult to restrict tampering or theft. Securityboxes when utilized for security restrict camera access for operator,are large and heavy, only secure camera within the box, rarely allow fortilt & angle adjustments, and are very costly.

A low cost total solution to the security of such device is theinventive open cage with is lockable door, ability to mounts a camera orother recording device therein securely and allow the cage to beadjustably mounted to a supporting structure, herein after the cage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application is directed to resolve the security of thesedevices, while providing the attributes generally required for fieldmounting these devices in such a manner for convenient operator access,in a low cost yet rigid solution.

The application is designed to allow any style, shape, or size device onthe current market to be captured within the cage while allowingoperator access, and maintain the security of the cage to a fixed assetsuch as a tree, pole, or similar physical feature.

The cage is light, yet durable, and can easily be transported to aremote location while providing the owner with the knowledge thesedevices cannot be easily stolen.

More particularly, the cage is designed to hold and secure a device suchas a camera or other recording device for observation of an area. Thecage includes an open cage with separable frame sections to permitaccess to an interior of the cage. The cage has a frame with framemembers and a number of cross bars extending between frame members todefine the interior, wherein a portion of the cross bars are moveablewith respect to the frame to allow for different-sized devices to fit inthe interior, the cross bars also creating sufficient interference thatwhen the cage door is closed and the device is placed in the cage, thedevice cannot be removed from the interior.

The cage also includes means for mounting the device in the cage andmeans for locking the frame sections together to prevent removal of thedevice in the interior of the cage. Further, a means for adjustablymounting the cage to a cage supporting structure is provided.

The means for locking the door can include mounts attached to the frame,each mount having an opening to receive a lock or securing rope. Themeans for adjustably mounting the cage can include plates mounted to theframe, a ball and arm member assembly, wherein the plate is adapted toreceive the ball to allow ball rotation and adjustment of the positionof the cage with respect to the supporting structure, and the arm memberextends from the ball as part of the mounting to the supportingstructure. The arm of the arm assembly is mounted to a member, with themember adapted to be mounted to the supporting structure.

The means for mounting the device can include a plurality of springloaded bumpers mounted to the frame of the cage, the bumpers adapted tobias the device against portions of the cage to keep it in place. Thespring loaded bumpers can be mounted to cross bars of the cage.

The frame sections can include a frame section and a door hinged to theframe section, or two complementary frame sections that when fittogether form the cage. The invention also entails a method of securelymounting a device such as a camera or other recording device in the cageas described above. That is, one the cage is provided, the recordingdevice is mounted in the interior of the cage; and the cage is mountedto a supporting structure. The orientation of the cage can be adjustedwhen securing the cage to the supporting structure using the adjustablecage mounting means. The position of one of more of the moveable crossbars of the cage can be adjusted as well as part of the mounting step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a back view of one embodiment of the cage of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the cage of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cage of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a top and/or bottom view of the cage of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing dimensions for various cage embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 7 shows a security rope for use with the cage of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the cage of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows the cage of FIG. 8 in an open state.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the cage of claim 1illustrating a different open state configuration.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of amounting assembly to mount the cage in a desired orientation.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment for mounting a recording device to the cageof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The expense of such camera devices has become such that field securityis mandatory to protect the owner's asset. Within the current industry,a security box is the only option. This costly and bulky option is nottypically deployed to remote locations, and these boxes are typicallysuitable for a single camera size and shape. Furthermore, these securityboxes do not allow for tilt or rotate alignment of the held device forfield applications. Security of these boxes is limited to the camera inthe box, and do not address the security of the box itself to a physicalfeature.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, and 8-12, the cage is designed such that agame camera or similar device is captured within a wire cage betweenfront bars (155) and rear adjustment bumper (149), while allowing forcamera lens, flash, and detection features are free from obstruction.The cage allows for operator to adjust the front security bars (101) toclear these features. The front on the cage is hinged (107) or (107 a)to allow for camera or such device to be placed within.

FIG. 12 shows a way or means for mounting the device in the cage. Theassembly 140 includes spring (145) loaded adjustment screws (147) withbumper (149). The screws (145 extend through opening (146) on cross backbar (111). This assembly 140 provides the operator with means to “fit” acamera to the cage in the proper manner and secure camera within thecage for proper field use. By using the bumpers, the camera or otherdevice is basically held in place against the various members of thecage so that there is no need for specific attachment to any particularlocation on the device. This permits the cage to adapt any number ofdevices without having to worry about having to mechanically attach,e.g., use the tripod screw opening found on many cameras for mountingpurposes. While the bumpers are shown in FIG. 3 as mounted on the crossbars 111, they could be positioned on other sides of the cage with theinclusion of the appropriate cross bars or other mounting members formounting a particular device.

While the spring loaded bumpers are shown as one way to fit the deviceinside the cage, other means for mounting the device inside the cage canbe employed. These could include the use of fasteners that wouldmechanically link one or parts of the cage to one or more parts of thedevice being mounted instead of using the press fit concept of thebumpers.

Top and bottom cage (109) faces are welded into place wire fixed crossbars (119) to complete the cage.

With particular reference to FIG. 11, and in another aspect of theinvention a means for adjustably mounting the cage to a supportingstructure is shown. In this embodiment, the cage can be now be mountedusing rotational ball (135) attached to plate (115) with lock pin (137)to a physical location and adjusted through mechanical receiver plates(131) and (133) at the rear for alignment of tilt and angle by lockingscrews (139) when desired, which secure the receiver plates together andhold the rotational ball so that the cage is held in its desiredorientation. In this aspect, the rotational ball and its relatedcomponents allow for adjustably mounting the cage to a supportingstructure, e.g., adjusting it so that the camera or other recordingdevice is pointed in the desired direction.

Other mechanical means are available for this alignment (rotational andangular), such as round bars with similar capture devices which couldlocate on a rear of the cage therefore the invention includes any suchmechanical means for which this attribute can be achieved.

In another aspect the cage can now be secured to the physical locationby means of wire rope (131), see FIG. 7, and standard padlock, throughlock mounts (105) located on each side of the back of cage and on cagedoor of the front of cage. The use of the wire rope can both secure thecage to a support structure by wrapping around the structure, e.g., apole, and also lock the door of the cage. In this instance, a rope orthe like could function not only as a means for adjustably mounting thecage to a supporting structure but also a means for locking the door.

The lock mounts 105 can be used just to lock the door closed by justusing a lock 106 to pass through each opening in the mounts that areadjacent each other. Of course, other locking arrangements can beemployed as would be within the skill of the art.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative cage arrangement wherein the hinge of thecage is located on a different frame member (108) than the hinge shownin FIGS. 8 and 9. While the cage is shown with a hinged door, otherarrangements can be employed whereby frame sections are separable sothat the interior of the cage can be accessed for camera mounting andremoval. For example, the frame sections (112) and (114) of FIG. 10could be connected together using fasteners, clamps or any type ofmechanical engagement and the two frame sections could be held togetherwith a security rope as shown in FIG. 7 or another type of lock thatwould keep the frame sections from being separated. While two framesections are shown, more than two could be used to form the cage.

The front bars (101) and side bars (113) are adjustable in so that anymake or model of a camera is securely captured by the cage, see FIGS. 2and 3. The position and number of the adjustable bars can be varied ifso desired.

The field camera or device can now be accessed by the opening the frontdoor (161) of the cage and/or through the cage itself. The cage itselfremains secure to the physical location until operator wishes torelocate.

The field camera or similar devices can be swapped out with varies otherstyle or size devices by simply reconfiguring the cage for the shape ofthe device without removing cage from the physical location.

The cage can be made in any size and any material, with the materialbeing the type that it will withstand attempts to break the cage,preferably a metal material. It is preferred to provide a number ofdifferent sized cages so as to accommodate different sized cameras. Byusing the three sizes shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to virtuallyencompass the entire family of products on the market for these types ofcameral or recording device applications. The physical size of the cageis generally the only attribute that varies. All mechanical alignmentand security characteristics of the cage can generally remain consistentregardless of which size cage is used. However, the characteristicscould also vary between different size cages if so desired.

The cage is designed for manufacturing, with the front and rear panelssimilar and top and bottom alike. These sections of the cage are weldedsecurely together. Mechanical adjustments for all sizes are identical,along with the security mechanism. This provides for a low costmanufacturing solution that will be presented to the consumer.

I claim:
 1. A cage designed to hold and secure a device such as a cameraor other recording device for observation of an area comprising: an opencage with separable frame sections to permit access to an interior ofthe cage; the cage having a frame with frame members and a number ofcross bars extending between frame members to define the interior,wherein a portion of the cross bars are moveable with respect to theframe to allow for different-sized devices to fit in the interior, thecross bars also creating sufficient interference that when the cage dooris closed and the device is placed in the cage, the device cannot beremoved from the interior; means for mounting the device in the cage;means for locking the frame sections together to prevent removal of thedevice in the interior of the cage; and means for adjustably mountingthe cage to a cage supporting structure.
 2. The cage of claim 1, whereinthe means for locking the door includes mounts attached to the frame,each mount having an opening to receive a lock or securing rope.
 3. Thecage of claim 1, wherein the means for adjustably mounting the cagecomprises: plates mounted to the frame; a ball and arm member assembly,wherein the plate is adapted to receive the ball to allow ball rotationand adjustment of the position of the cage with respect to thesupporting structure, and the arm member extends from the ball as partof the mounting to the supporting structure,
 4. The cage of claim 3,wherein an arm of the arm assembly is mounted to a member, with themember adapted to be mounted to the supporting structure.
 5. The cage ofclaim 1, wherein the device mounting means comprises: a plurality ofspring loaded bumpers mounted to the frame of the cage, the bumpersadapted to bias the device against portions of the cage to keep it inplace.
 6. The cage of claim 5, wherein the spring loaded bumpers aremounted to cross bars of the cage.
 7. The cage of claim 1, wherein theframe sections comprise a frame section and a door hinged to the framesection, or two complementary frame sections that when fit together formthe cage.
 8. A method of securely mounting a device such as a camera orother recording device in a cage comprising the steps of: providing thecage of claim 1; mounting the device in the interior of the cage; andsecuring the cage to a supporting structure.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein an orientation of the cage is adjusted when securing the deviceto the supporting structure using the adjustable cage mounting means.10. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting the position ofone of more of the moveable cross bars of the cage as part of themounting step.